The Pre-Shot Routine – The Bridge Between Practice and Performance
A consistent pre-shot routine in golf might be the most underrated performance tool most amateurs ignore.
Settle in. Let’s talk golf.
We’ve talked about being present.
We’ve talked about trusting your swing.
We’ve talked about the mental game being 60% of golf.
But there’s something that connects all of it.
The pre-shot routine.
This is the bridge between practice and performance.
And I used to think it was something only pros worried about.
It’s not.
It’s something overthinkers need.
My Pre-Round Routine (Before I Even Touch a Club)
For me, it starts 30–45 minutes before the first tee.
I get there early.
Why?
Because rushing is the enemy of focus.
When I pull into the parking lot, I try to leave the cares of the world in the car.
Work.
Emails.
Life logistics.
They can wait.
Now I’m here.
I’m breathing cool air.
Looking at beautiful greens and trees.
Standing around people I enjoy competing with.
Maybe beating.
Maybe keeping them from falling out of the cart as I race between holes for fun.
Perspective first.
Then performance.
The Bucket Matters More Than You Think
Next up: a small bucket of balls.
Not to reinvent my swing.
Not to chase perfection.
But to:
• Loosen up
• Wake up muscle memory
• Smooth out any yips
• Validate my distances
• Rehearse my game plan
This is where I lightly revisit the fundamentals:
• Stance
• Tempo
• Hinge and re-hinge
• Balanced follow-through
Not overthinking.
Just reminding my body what it already knows.
Then I check the bag.
Tees?
Rangefinder?
Glove looking fresh and confidence levels rising?
I mean… you want them a little jealous, right?
Listen… an awesome looking glove just hits different.
Don’t judge me.
The Tee Box Routine (Where It Actually Counts)
Now we’re on the first tee.
This is where routine protects you.
I take a few practice swings.
But here’s the key:
They cannot be lazy “air swings.”
They must be intentional.
As if I’m addressing a real ball.
Same tempo.
Same balance.
Same finish.
Because when I step up to the ball, I don’t want to start thinking.
I want to continue.
The swing shouldn’t begin at the ball.
It should already be underway.
That’s the bridge.
Practice → rehearsal → execution.
Why This Matters
Without a routine, every shot feels new.
New pressure.
New doubt.
New swing thoughts.
With a routine?
Every shot feels familiar.
Familiar reduces fear.
Familiar builds confidence.
Confidence improves tempo.
And tempo improves everything.
Real Talk
Do I still choke sometimes?
Absolutely.
Have I ever missed the ball completely and politely asked everyone to look away?
Possibly.
More than once.
But the concept is solid.
And the practice is real.
And the more consistent the routine becomes,
the more consistent the performance becomes.
Not perfect.
Consistent.
That’s the goal.
Build Your Own Pre-Shot Routine
It doesn’t need to look like mine.
It needs to:
• Calm your mind
• Reinforce your fundamentals
• Eliminate rushed decisions
• Create familiarity
• Encourage commitment
A Simple 4-Step Pre-Shot Routine Framework
1. Pick a very specific target.
2. Take one intentional rehearsal swing.
3. Step in and align.
4. Commit and swing.
No mechanical thoughts allowed.
Simple beats complicated.
Repetition beats randomness.
The Next Shot
Your next shot shouldn’t feel like a surprise.
Build a routine.
Rehearse with intention.
Then let it flow.
Practice creates the swing.
Routine releases it.
Do you actually have a pre-shot routine…
Or are you winging it every time?
Drop it in the Clubhouse – I’m curious what your go-to move is before you pull the trigger.
Real Talk. Play Better.
Effort builds results.
